Ireland Case No. 29539Criminal damage (Criminal Damage Act 1991, s.2) · Co. Cork · 9 Feb 2021
Man sentenced to six months for criminal damage at Cork council office
John O'Neill, a 61-year-old man from Glanduff, Kilbrittain, Co Cork, trapped two rats and released them into the Cork County Council offices at Rathbeg, Kinsale on 9 February 2021, causing approximately €3,000 worth of damage over four days. He was captured on CCTV entering the building with an item under his jacket and was arrested on 24 May 2021. O'Neill pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage under section 2 of the Criminal Damage Act 1991 at Bandon District Court. On 21 October 2021, Judge McNulty sentenced him to six months in prison, describing the behaviour as uniquely wicked and committed with malice.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced21 Oct
2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- O'Neill trapped two rats and released them into the Cork County Council offices at Rathbeg, Kinsale, causing approximately €3,000 worth of damage over four days.
- The rats ate through electrical cables, damaged computer keyboards, and left excrement on almost every surface in the office.
- O'Neill admitted catching and releasing the rats because of a grievance with a member of the management team.
- Where
- The defendant lives in Glanduff, Kilbrittain, County Cork.
- When
- The rats were released on 9 February 2021 and Rentokill trapped and killed them on 12 February 2021.
- Investigation
- O'Neill was captured on CCTV entering the building with an item covered under his jacket and leaving shortly afterwards.
- Det Garda Michael Brosnan of Kinsale Garda station began the investigation and arrested O'Neill on 24 May 2021, who was detained at Bandon Garda Station.
- Charges
- The charge is causing criminal damage under section 2 of the Criminal Damage Act 1991.
- In court
- O'Neill pleaded guilty at Bandon District Court.
- Sentence
- Judge McNulty sentenced O'Neill to six months in prison, describing the behaviour as uniquely wicked and committed with malice.
- Other details
- O'Neill was a 61-year-old former council employee who resigned after 23 years and had no previous convictions.
- O'Neill brought €3,000 to court in compensation for damage and clean-up costs.
32 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe defendant is a 61-year-old former council employee (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe defendant trapped two rats and released them into the council office (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe rats caused approximately €3,000 worth of damage over four days (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe rats ate through electrical cables and damaged computer keyboards (irishtimes.com)
- whatStaff had to clean up rat excrement from almost every surface in the office each day (irishtimes.com)
- whatRentokill trapped and killed the two rats on 12 February 2021 (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe defendant admitted catching and releasing the rats because of a grievance with a member of the management team (irishtimes.com)
- whatTwo rats were released into the Cork County Council offices at Rathbeg, Kinsale. (rte.ie)
- whatO'Neill pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage. (rte.ie)
- whatOn 10 February the offices were covered in excrement. (rte.ie)
- whatThe cleaning process and damage cost in the region of €3,000. (rte.ie)
- whereThe defendant lives in Glanduff, Kilbrittain, County Cork (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe rats were released on 9 February 2021. (rte.ie)
- whenManagement reported suspicions the infestation was deliberate on 26 March. (rte.ie)
- investigationDet Garda Michael Brosnan of Kinsale Garda station began the investigation (irishtimes.com)
- investigationO'Neill was captured on CCTV entering the building with an item covered under his jacket and leaving shortly afterwards. (rte.ie)
- investigationRentokill identified the source of the infestation on 12 February. (rte.ie)
- investigationGarda Brosnan arrested O'Neill on 24 May and he was detained at Bandon Garda Station. (rte.ie)
- chargeThe charge is causing criminal damage under section 2 of the Criminal Damage Act 1991 (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe defendant pleaded guilty at Bandon District Court (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe maximum sentence was €2,500 or 12 months in prison. (rte.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at Bandon District Court. (rte.ie)
- sentenceThe statutory penalty was a €2,500 fine or 12 months in prison (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe judge said the offence merited a custodial sentence to act as general deterrence (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceJudge McNulty sentenced O'Neill to six months in prison. (rte.ie)
- otherThe defendant resigned from his job after 23 years working with the council (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe defendant brought €3,000 to court in compensation for damage and clean-up costs (irishtimes.com)
- otherO'Neill made full and frank admissions to gardaí, saying he acted because of a deteriorating relationship with management. (rte.ie)
- otherO'Neill had gone to hospital with stress in July 2020. (rte.ie)
- otherO'Neill brought €3,000 to court in compensation. (rte.ie)
- otherO'Neill was without previous convictions. (rte.ie)
- otherJudge McNulty described the behaviour as uniquely wicked and committed with malice. (rte.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 21 Oct2021Ex-employee jailed for releasing rats at council office
Reports the sentencing: O'Neill pleaded guilty and received six months' imprisonment; details of the incident, investigation, and mitigation are provided.
convicted, John O'Neill, 61, male, named, irish (judged from name)John O'Neill - 21 Oct2021Ex-council employee jailed for six months for releasing rats into office over grievance
Sentencing report: O'Neill received 12 months' imprisonment suspended for six months, resulting in a six-month custodial sentence, after pleading guilty to releasing two rats into his former employer's office over a management grievance.
convicted, John O'Neill, 61, male, named, irish (judged from name)John O'Neill